New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-24

"You be frightened Of me- John But I'm q
/; lot better-rm not drowned now, you silly!'
| John smiled little for the first time since he
had looked OF her. and said
"Ycs, 1 be frightened at you You look SO
delicate, and such little thing; and don I
seem to know you. lying abed like that
Il don't lie abed much on the boat. do II "
said Nancy, the flush which his coming had
caused fading and leaving the little brown face
suddenly.
! "IIe's gone on with the boat. 1t had to go,
you know, 30 far as Bolton. He's coming on
Wednesday TO see yer-back by train-if you amt
/ out o. this by then, Nancy
| NAY. shan't he out, said Nancy, her eyes
filing "1he lady-the Sister, mean-says I'll
| have to lie still good bit because Of my ribs.
Did you know John when you pulled me out o.
| water that the boat had gone agen me and
squeezed me agen the bridge before went under P"
John nodded. and putting his left hand over
hers lying in his right said huskily:
"Did it hurt very bad Nancy deari' and then,
breaking down altogether poor John lnelt by the
bed and laid his head on the iron at the top Of
the bed and sobbed like child.
"Dont'ee, John. now d0nt'ee.' said Nancy the
red blood coming like wave into her face
suddenly.
ut was not so very bad was dazed and
didn't feel like at all Don't cry. John be q
lot better and il don't hurt now. ] can't bear to
have you cry" and the poor childs voice got
rough and great tears rolled over her cheeks,
and she moved her hand to pull Johns head
down close to her and whispered, 1T was you
who saved me, John, you know, Oh. don't cry
so. John; I'm better"
For moment or two the poor fellow sobbed
helplessly over his little crushed playfellow and
then when she said "you mustn't, John; the lady
can see through that little window and she'll
make yer GO" he kissed the hand he was holding
and sat back in the chair and looked pitifully
hon inU bel
John" said Nancy shyly, after moment
what made you say l was your sweetheart
when L an'tP'
you are, Nancy; didn't know it myself till
come to tell the lady you was naught to me,
and then knOwed you were everything and all
I've got to care for. When you come out of this
you'll be my sweetheart. won't you, Nancyp'
Nancy smiled with the tears hardly dry and
said, 1T did sound strange to hear you say out
like that she's my sweetheart But l think
be-, she said after a moment. looking roguishly
up at John. who leant over her and kissed her
Come home soon, Nancy" he said, land Pll
take better Of you. You shant jump Off
the barge agen, nor get drowned no more
The door opened to admit doctor and the
Sister. John stood up and touched his forehead
to the doctor, who nodded and said;
"Your sisters over the age, my man she
ought to have been taken to the Infirmary. but
have taken her in must get her we'll
How old are you he added to the girl.
"Fm sixteen and eight months, sir
"Dear me, she don't look it, does she. Sister p
"No." said the Sister, taking down card that
hung over the bed and adding the age to it.
Its the short curly hair makes her look so
young. else she's n fine grown girl really
How came she to be brought hereP said the
doctor holding Nancy's wrist and putting one
foot up the chair by the bed, resting his
watch ON his knee. lie addressed John. but
kept his eyes on Nancy's face, which was paling
and flushing by turns.
II was carrying her In my arms after we got
her out, sir. and her father says 10 the police
man. where ought to take my little girl she's
been nearly drowned and hurt% Little girl
says the policeman. take her to Gartside Street.
the Childrcns Hospital. Outpatients room. you
know and we does and there was van
there, and they told us to get in, and we was
drove here"
"Oh 1 see.' said the doctor, laying down the
hand he held and putting up his watch.
so they took you for a real little girl instead
OF big little girl. l daresay Sister, you and
G. mentioning the other surgeonJ were only
too delighted to get a good case into your
Special. and forgot TO ask the age u Any rise in
temperature CHANGING ut the chart over the bed.
NO. said the Sister.
flakes her food well? let's see, milk only,
isn't itp Like it Pr Nancy nodded.
"Yes.' said the Sister again. land she sleeps
well now
"Uh we'll she's doing very well. and turning
to John the doctor said those TO him routine
words but which lifted q load of the poor
fellows heart: IF she lies still and does as
she's told she'll pull through now; but you'd
better not stop now talking. to her. she's over
tired already. Say goodbye to your sister and
come to the out patient room and give me your
address,"
"She's my sweetheart. SIR said John slowly,
looking at Nancys dOwncast eyel:ds.
"Oh. hOl' said the doctor. CHANGING sharply
f.o,, 20 tIa thar hon i,ix
it's time you went. You're far too interesting
visitor for our patient But being man Of
quick sympathy. and although he was doctor
and "man Of science" havine sweetheart OF
his own. he called the Sister outside the door
as he left to give the young things a moment TO
themselves, while he impressed upon her that
Nancy must on account attempt 20 move.
1--WE shall have mischief with that
broken rib unless look out. But far she's
doing splenddly."
John caught the last words as he too came out.
and how they altered the look of things for him
When he had entered that room he dreaded
TO look at his po0r-as he thought dying play
mate. Now! lie Strengthened himself up, and
smiled back at Nancy, who kissed her hand TO
him in the doorway Nancy, who was really
getting well, and woulI soon be coming
out all right And she was no longer his play
mate, but his little sweetheart and they
had kissed each other.
This bargce looked different man as he
stepped briskly down the corridor behind the
doctor, feeling inclined to join in the whistling
OF any love is young and fair In which the
young house surgeon was ndulgng.
When he was going out into the glare OF the
sunshine on the gravel after giving the partcu-
lars about Nancy's father and his profession John
looked straight at the doctor standing bare
headed on the steps. and said
"Iil be very grateful to You, sir. if you'll
cure her.: and added by sudden inspiration,
@she's all I've got 70 love, and III do anything
for you II you'll get her well. sir. I'm going 10
have barge OF my own next spring, and I'll
take better of her after this
"Oh so Miss Nancy is TO be Mrs. John 1hrupp,
is she laughed the doctor
"Yes. she is. sir" returned John, laughing too
out of the Joy and relief at his own heart
As he ran down the road to catch the tram that
came jingling up the CHATTER OF the horses hoofs